Survive Beneath the Surface: Halo Week

Note from Darcy:  It's Rachael's turn to design our summer reading activities this week, and also her turn to write about the corresponding books.  Enjoy the following post about our selection of gaming-related material. 

This week’s summer reading theme focuses on survival beneath the surface. This theme lends itself well to another aspect of our teen room—video gaming! In addition to a Halo tournament this Wednesday, there are several video game-themed books that can be found in the CCPL Young Adult collection.

Halo: The Fall of Reach by Eric Nylund. This book tells the background story of the fall of humanity characterized in the popular video game, Halo. While the brutal Covenant juggernaut sweeps inexorably through space, intent on wiping out humankind, only one stronghold remains--the planet Reach. Practically on Earth's doorstep, it is the last military fortress to defy the onslaught. But the personnel here have another, higher priority: to prevent the Covenant from discovering the location of Earth. The Halo series continues with Halo: The Flood by William Dietz; Halo: First Strike by Eric Nylund; Halo: Ghosts of Onyx by Eric Nylund;  Halo: Contact Harvest by Joseph Staten; and Halo: the Cole Protocol by Tobias Buckell.

100 Computer Games to Play Before You Die [Overdrive e-book] by Steve Bowden. From unforgettable classics such as “Donkey Kong” and “Space Invaders” to such modern phenomena as “Grand Theft Auto” and “Wii Sports,” computer games have been drawing people in for decades. But which of the vast array are true classics worth becoming addicted to? From the halcyon days of pixilated, one-dimensional blobs charging around a maze to escape from ghosts, to contemporary fully-interactive adventures, computer games expert Steve Bowden analyzes the 100 games that comprise his shortlist. (Note:  So far this title is only available as an e-book.)

The Halo Graphic Novel by Lee Hammock, Jay Faerber, Tsutomu Nihei and Brett Lewis. Marvel and Bungie team up to create The Halo Graphic Novel based on the best-selling video game. The graphic novel brings the Halo universe to life for the first time in a sequential art medium.

The Warcraft Archive by Richard A. Knaak, et al. In the mist-shrouded haze of past, the world of Azeroth teemed with wonders of every kind. Magical races and ancient beasts strode alongside the tribes of man -- until the arrival of the demonic Burning Legion and its baneful lord, Sargeras. Now dragons, elves, orcs, and dwarves all vie for supremacy across their scarred, war-torn kingdoms -- all part of a grand, malevolent scheme to determine the fate of the world. This 613-page tome actually includes four stories of the world of Warcraft:  Day of the Dragon by Richard A. Knaak; Lord of the Clans by Christie Golden; The Last Guardian by Jeff Grubb; and Of Blood and Honor by Chris Metzen.